Prayer Life

Traditional Catholic Prayers

‘For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.’
Thérèse of Lisieux

Prayer is a natural and essential part of any Christian’s life. We pray to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to the Virgin Mary, to the Saints, to our Guardian Angel. We pray for ourselves, for those we love, for this in need and for the situations and circumstances of our lives that we find ourselves in. Prayer changes us. It makes us humble, grateful, joyful and full of praise. It can comfort and soothe as well as challenge us.

Below you will find some familiar, and some less familiar prayers. We hope that they will help you develop a prayer life which sustains and develops you faith. But remember, prayer doesn’t just simply happen. Like most things in life, if we want them to become habitual we have to practice. Prayer requires discipline, so try to make it a regular part of you day. 

Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; 
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Hail Mary
Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Glory be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

Act of Faith
O my God, I firmly believe
that you are one God in three divine Persons,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I believe that your divine Son became man
and died for our sins and that he will come
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe these and all the truths
which the Holy Catholic Church teaches
because you have revealed them
who are eternal truth and wisdom,
who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
In this faith I intend to live and die.
Amen.

Act of Hope
O Lord God, I hope by your grace
for the pardon of all my sins
and after life here to gain eternal happiness
because you have promised it who are
infinitely powerful, faithful, kind, and merciful.
In this hope I intend to live and die.
Amen.

Act of Love
O Lord God, I love you above all things
and I love my neighbour for your sake
because you are the highest, infinite and
perfect good, worthy of all my love.
In this love I intend to live and die.
Amen.

Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created
and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit,
did instruct the hearts of your faithful,
grant that by that same Holy Spirit,
we may be truly wise,
and ever rejoice in your consolation.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

A prayer to my Guardian Angel
O angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God’s love commits me here;
ever this day (or night) be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.

The Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, be my sanctification.
Body of Christ, be my salvation.
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins.
Water of Christ’s side, wash out my stains.
Passion of Christ, my comfort be.
O good Jesu, listen to me.
In Thy wounds I fain would hide,
N’er to be parted from Thy side,
Guard me, should the foe assail me.
Call me when my life shall fail me.
Bid me come to Thee above,
With Thy saints to sing Thy love,
World without end.
Amen.

Grace before meals
Bless us, O Lord and these thy gifts,
which we are about to receive from your bounty,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Grace after meals
We give you thanks for all your benefits, Almighty God,
for the meal we have shared and the blessings we have received,
who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. 
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. 
To thee we do cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning
and weeping in this vale of tears. 
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. 
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
that we may be made worthy
of the promises of Christ.

The Magnificat
My soul glorifies the Lord,
My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her lowliness;
Henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me.
Holy his name!
His mercy is from age to age,
on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength
And scatters the proud hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones
And raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things,
Sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, his servant,
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his sons for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, 
that never was it known 
that anyone who fled to thy protection, 
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, 
was left unaided. 
Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, 
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. 
To thee do I come, before thee I stand, 
sinful and sorrowful. 
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, 
despise not my petitions, 
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. 
Amen.

Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you,
and I detest all my sins because of your just punishments,
but most of all because they offend you, my God,
who art all good and deserving of all my love. 
I firmly resolve with the help of your grace
to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.
Amen.

Eternal Rest
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, 
and let perpetual light shine upon them. 
May they rest in peace.
Amen.